Summary: Real faith is not just something you say, feel, think or even believe, it is something you DO.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

The only way you can please God is by faith.

What does that really mean? We say we are believers -we believe Him.

Many people may say that they believe Him. What does that really mean?

I want to please Him - I want to have the faith that truly pleases Him.

James gives us the answer – what kind of a faith is God expecting from us?

James tells us 4 things that faith is not – and then he tells us what it is.

WHAT IS REAL FAITH?

James 2:14 "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?"

1. Real faith is not just something you SAY

Take note of the word here - "claim". This man claims to have faith…

It cannot just be something you SAY. It cannot be something you just TALK about.

Jesus criticised the religious people in His times - "These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." (Matt 15:8).

You can say the right things and yet without love for God.

SHOW YOU CARE

A young boy, on an errand for his mother, had just bought a dozen eggs. Walking out of the store, he tripped and dropped the sack. All the eggs broke, and the sidewalk was a mess. The boy tried not to cry. A few people gathered to see if he was OK and to tell him how sorry they were.

In the midst of the words of pity, one man handed the boy a dollar. Then he turned to the group and said, "I care a dollar worth. How much do the rest of you care?"

James tells out that words don’t mean much if we have the ability to do more.

Real faith is not just something you SAY…

James 2:15-16 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?

2. Real faith is not just something you FEEL

You may feel sorry for those who do not know Jesus.

You may feel sad for those who are struggling in this world of pain and suffering…

You may sympathise with those who are poor and sick, but what good is it?

Sometimes we confuse emotions and feelings with faith. We thought God will be happy as long as there is this feeling of sympathy for others. “If I feel for those who are lost without Christ, God is happy.”

James says, you feel sad for them, but “does nothing about it, what good is it?”